MOVIES: Academy Awards Cheat Sheet

This Sunday is the 88th Annual Academy Awards. Here is your cheat sheet for picking the the winners in each of the major categories. If you want to play along and pick your own ballots, you can do so and share your picks with your social networks on Oscar.com. Check out the full ballot HERE.

BEST PICTURE

WINNER: The Revenant

Spotlight was the real best movie of the year, and I’ll hear no argument. However, I do not have a vote and I am pretty sure everyone else is going to pick The Revenant.

The Big Short

The Martian

Spotlight

Mad Max: Fury Road

Bridge of Spies

Brooklyn

Room

BEST ACTOR

WINNER: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant

While my heart says Matt Damon, my head says Leonardo DiCaprio. Damon did more with less in his role in the Martian, but Leo filmed on location in the cold for most of a year with a director who would only film with natural light. I think that kind of commitment deserves a statue.

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo

Matt Damon, The Martian

Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

BEST ACTRESS

WINNER: Brie Larson, Room

I have not heard, read, or seen a compelling argument for anyone other than Brie Larson to win Best Actress. This is probably the strongest lock of the entire night.

Cate Blanchett, Carol

Jennifer Lawrence, Joy

Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years

Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

BEST DIRECTOR

WINNER: Alejandro Inarritu, The Revenant

Inarritu’s direction of The Revenant is the most compelling character in the movie. No other film this year gives the audience the kind of experience The Revenant does. While each other nominee has its merits, Inarritu direction delivers filmgoers an unshakable experience.

Adam McKay, The Big Short

George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

Lenny Abrahamson, Room

Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

WINNER: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Hollywood loves a comeback. Creed surprised everyone by not being just another Rocky movie, and Stallone surprised everyone by turning in one of the best performances of the year. All other actors nominated turned in great performances, but for Hollywood not to honor Stallone here with a career achievement Oscar in the form of Best Supporting Actor would be a real surprise.

Christian Bale, The Big Short

Tom Hardy, The Revenant

Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight

Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

WINNER: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Between her performances in The Danish Girl and Ex Machina, Alicia Vikander had one hell of a 2015. Each performance could have and maybe should have been considered for Best Actress, so any actress beating Vikander should be considered an upset.

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

Rooney Mara, Carol

Rachel McAdams, Spotlight

Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

WINNER: Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton was a huge huge huge hit and given the amount of blowback the Academy received by not nominating it for individual acting awards leads me to believe it is going to win Original Screenplay.

Bridge of Spies

Ex Machina

Inside Out

Spotlight

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

WINNER: Room

Any book written from the child’s perspective is worthy of consideration. A book written from the child’s perspective when the child is living in captivity underground with his mom and it’s the only world he has ever known is probably going to win the Oscar.